Jun 11, 2015

While the talks and revelations leading to Friday's special session at 10:00 a.m. may both confuse and dishearten many Minnesotans, Annandale toxic Christian rocker and preacher Bradlee Dean actually managed to make folks in the legislature seem like models of civility, whatever sort of 3:00 a.m. strong-arm deals they've been cutting.

He sparked further controversy when he arranged for national conservative speakers Bradlee Dean and Coach Dave Daubenmire to speak at the Jenison Center for the Arts on Thursday for an event called “West Michigan God & Country.” Klawiter said Dean has spoken at high schools across the country about the Bible, conservatism and liberty. . . .

Bradlee Dean also told protesters it was time for them to ‘shut their pie holes’ and ‘listen to the facts.’ There was then shouting from both event supporters and protesters. . . .

Dean covered a number of topics as he continued speaking: same-sex marriage and protests of it; the “sate-controlled” media, its coverage of same-sex marriage and members of the military killed in Afghanistan and Iraq; the public school system; abortion; and evolution.

Perhaps the loudest cheer of the night from the crowd was when Dean referenced the number of LGBT people the president — who he referred to by his full name Barack Hussein Obama repeatedly — had appointed to various positions.

Here's the news report:

Dean gained national attention in 2011 when he questioned President Obama's faith in a prayer delivered while serving as guest chaplain for the Minnesota House. The prayer was redacted and then-Speaker Kurt Zellers ordered a do-over for that day's session opener.

Later, Dean unsuccessfully tried to sue Rachel Maddow, MSNBC and local Minnesota reporter Andy Birkey for defamation after they reported remarks delivered on his radio show.

These days, Dean has been reduced to a shell of his former self. His strip-mall ministry in Annandale closed two years ago. Street teams of youngsters sharing Dean's word and peddling CDs by Junkyard Prophet, his Christian rock band, have reportedly been disbanded.

Dean is now said to run his ministry from home, where he isn't in the mood to elaborate on his latest iteration.

"Why don't you look at your track record. You've been sued by our attorney," he says, referring to a defamation suit lawyer Larry Klayman brought against City Pages. (A judge dismissed the case last month.) "We're not interested. Thanks."

Then he hung up.

As best as anyone can tell, Dean's once-mighty movement now consists of a middle-aged man with a calf tattoo, a keyboard, and an internet radio show.

Best of all, he'll be on the road tomorrow, surely a blessing to our state. With the fustercluck at the State Office Building going down Friday, we'll take it.

Photo: Pro-equality protestors at the event.

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